England’s Twelve Days of Christmas

Monday 12, September 2011

There are twelve days of Christmas according to the yuletide classic so here are twelve highlights from around the country in celebration of all things seasonal. From the traditional to the sublime, we’ve selected something for all the family to enjoy during the festive period. Don your hats, gloves and scarves and get ready to enjoy a very English Christmas…

Day 1: Enchanting illuminations

Westonbirt, the National Arboretum will become a wonderland of festive lights this winter when the Enchanted Christmas event returns for 2011. Alongside carols and festive treats of mulled wine and roast chestnuts, visitors will be able to take the 45-minute Illuminated Trail around the Old Arboretum. The trail takes in some of the gems of Westonbirt’s collection, spectacularly highlighting the beauty and shape of the trees.

Date: Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from 25th November – 18th December 2011

This winter, Chatsworth has brought out the holly and the ivy for its very own Christmas carol spectacular! All the classic carols will be brought to life in a series of stunning visual displays, along with a few extras, across the lower floors of the historic home. Visitors will be taken on a magical festive journey around the house, complete with beautifully decorated Christmas trees, shepherds and their sheep, snow and sleighs. There is also the opportunity for children to take part in a traditional nativity at the farmyard, starring real animals.

Date: 5th November – 23rd December 2011

Location: Chatsworth, Derbyshire

Website: www.chatsworth.org

Day 3: Traditional toy making

Come to Kenilworth Castle during the Christmas holidays and treat the family to a traditional toy-making workshop with historical games experts Heuristics. Not only will you learn how to make a traditional wooden toy, which you can take home, there will be carols, fun games, storytelling, mince pies, mulled wine and hot spiced apple cider. A truly unique and fun way to spend quality time together in a beautiful setting.

Date: 27th November – 31st December 2011

Location: Warwickshire

Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk/kenilworth

Day 4: Vintage Christmas cupcakes

Cupcakes are really trendy right now and Christmas is the perfect time to let your creative skills go wild.

The pearly vintage Christmas cupcakes come with a winter theme. Produce a beautiful tray of 12 ever-so-pretty cupcakes to take home, admire and gorge upon. Then apply the skills picked up to tailor the designs and bake gorgeous gifts for family and friends all year long.

Date: 4th December 2011

Location: Farncombe Estate, Broadway, Cotswolds

Website: www.farncombeestate.co.uk

Day 5: Roasted chestnuts and Tiny Tim

Where better to put on a Dickensian Christmas market than in the historic Kent town where Charles Dickens once lived? Lining the grounds of the red-and-green-tinged medieval Rochester Castle are rows of cheery fairy light-draped stalls offering mulled wine, Dutch waffles, roasted chestnuts and plenty of handmade gifts. And as shoppers stuff their faces with seasonal sugary treats, they’ll be entertained by costumed characters, street performers, bands, and carol singers.

Date: 30th November – 8th December 2011

Location: Castle Hill, Rochester, Kent

Website: www.dickenschristmasmarket.com

Day 6: The magic of pantomime

The most magical rags-to-riches tale of them all is re-told in Manchester’s very own pantomime. This production of Cinderella is a glittering parade of everything you could possibly wish for in a traditional family pantomime: sensational costumes, dazzling songs, superb dance routines and wonderful comedy. It’s a delightful show, featuring Suzanne Shaw of Hear’Say fame, that will appeal to all ages.

Date: 3rd December 2011 – 8th December 2011

Location: Opera House Manchester, Manchester

Website: www.manchesteroperahouse.org.uk

Day 7: City of Angels

York, already a charming Christmas city of cobblestones and timber-framed buildings is made even more other-worldy with the Festival of Angels. It’s a true winter festival, with a winter wonderland of ice-sculptures, stalls, outdoor food and drink, street entertainment and guaranteed snow showers. Visitors can see Father Christmas and follow the Parade of Angels on Sunday, led by the beautiful Golden Angel.

Date: 10th – 11th December 2011

Location: York

Website: www.yorkfestivals.com

Day 8: The Nutcracker

Get swept up in the excitement of Christmas with one of the most famous classical ballets of all time, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. This fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies, magic and mystery is vividly brought to life in this unparalleled, world-famous production by Sir Peter Wright, complete with sets and costumes by John Macfarlane. One not to be missed!

Date: 25th November – 11th December 2011

Location: Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham

Website: www.birminghamhippodrome.com

Day 9: Santa Express

Santa will be letting off steam in a magical grotto at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, and children can meet him after taking the 10 mile steam train journey, Santa Special, to the Winter Wonderland at Havenstreet Station. Santa has a present for every child and families should take plenty of time to look around the Railway Museum at Havenstreet, as well as the shop, which will be stocked with last-minute Christmas gift ideas.

Every year on Christmas Eve the Luttrell Arms in Dunster burns the ashen faggot. This is an old Somerset Christmas tradition, similar to the Yule log, where stolen ash sticks are bound together with a series of green ash or hazel withies and placed on the fire. Each time a binding bursts, a round of drinks is ordered and perhaps a story told. Head to the Luttrell Arms to witness this age old custom, and enjoy a drink or three.

Date: 24th December

Location: Dunster, Exmoor

Website: www.luttrellarms.co.uk

Day 12: Take a cool tip on Christmas day

What a way to work up an appetite for Christmas lunch Weymouth & Portland Lions take their daring annual swim across Wemouth harbour on Christmas Day. Participants must be sponsored before they can plunge into the icy depths. Over 150 brave souls took part last year raising hundreds of pounds for a variety of charities and good causes. Just don’t confuse the goose pimples with the Christmas turkey’s!

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